Electric regulation



J. L. CREVELING ELECTRIC REGULATION Aug. 28, 1928.

Original Filed April 22,l 1924 INVENTOR.

Patented Aug. 28, 1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOHN L. CREVELING, 'OF ORACLE, ARIZONA, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TQ THE SIMPLEX EQUIPMENT COMPANY, INC., F NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

ELECTRIC REGULATION.

Application filed April 22, 1924, Serial No. 708,191. Renewed January 5, 1928.

My invention pertains to that class of electric regulation wherein a dynamo or other controllable source of electrical potential diiierence is to be automatically regulated iii V a predetermined manner. My invention is particularly applicable to electric systems wherein a variable speed dynamo or generator is used to operate lamps or other translating devices and charge a storage battery which l0 maintains the translating deviceswheii the generator is running at suiliciently low speed or is at rest, and is therefore particularly applicable to carlighting systems wherein the generator is driven from the car-axle.

Fig. I diagrammatically represents one type of such system embodying the essentials of my invention; and p Fig. II represents another type of system employing my invention. y

In the drawing, referring particularly to Fig. I, 1 represents the commutator of any suitable type of variable 'speed generator the positive brush l2 of which is indicated as connected by wire 3 with one side of the 25 usual automatic switch 4, adapted to closeits circuit when the generator voltage is substantially equal to that of the battery and to open the circuit when the generator voltage falls, in such manner as to prevent back discharge from the battery to the generator. This switch is merely indicated, as this type of apparatus is now well-known in the art. The opposite side of the switchftis connected as by the wire 5 with the positive termiiialsof the translating devices 7 and the positive side of the storage battery 6. The negative terminals of the translating devices and the .stor

age battery are connected with the wire 8 which is carried to one end of the solenoid or 40 winding 9 having its opposite en d connected as bythe wire 10 with the negative brush 11 of the generator. The generator is provided with any suitable exciting means, in this instance indicated as a plain shunt coil 12 having in series therewith the regulating device 13in this instance indicated as a carbon pile, one end of which rests against the abutment 1d while pressure is applied at the other end by means of a bell-crank lever pivoted as at 15 and having the short arm 16 and the long arm 17 to which may be attached the spring 18, for the purpose of adjustment.V The coil 9 is shown as provided with a core of magnetic material 19 which the said coil tends to raise when energized, while the dashpot 2O serves as a guide for the bottom of said core and prevents too sudden movement of the same. The upper end of the said core 19 is shown as fitting closely within a cylinder 21 so as to forni therewith an air dashpot. The cylinder 21 is indicated as threaded upon the rod 22, pivotally connected with the lever 17. 23 is a shunt or voltage coil across the generator circuit and is provided with a core 24 which it tends to raise when energized. The said core is provided with a dashpot 25 at its lower extremity and has its upper extremity itted into a cylinder 26 so as to form an air dashpot therewith. The cylinder 26 is threaded upon the rod 27, pivot-ally connected with the lever 17.

In Fig. II like numerals are used to indicate like parts, and it will be noted that the battery 6 has its negative side connected with the negative generator lead 10 through the solenoid or winding 28 which surrounds a core 29 which is pivotally connected with the lever 17. The voltage coil 23 is indicated as having a core 2d connected with t-he lever 30, pivoted as at 31 and carrying a piston or plunger 32 surrounded by a cylinder or shell 33 so as to form an air dashpot therewith. The cylinder 33 is pivotally connected with the lever 17, as indicated.

An operation of my invention is substantially as follows:

Referring particularly to Fig. I, if the generator be at rest or operating at suiiiciently low speed, the main switch l will be open, as indicated in the drawing, and the translating devices 7 may be supplied by the battery 6 in an obvious manner. If the generator speed be now raised until its voltage is slightly in excess of that oi' the battery, the switch 4 will be closed and current will iiow from the generator through brush 2, wire 3 and switch 4t to the lamps or other translating devices 7 and battery 6, from which return is made through wire 8, coil 9 and wire 10, to brush 11. The current in coil 9will tend to litt the core 19, and I so adjust these two instrumentalities that when the generator output reaches a desired maximum and gradually tends to exceed the saine, coil 9 will lift the core 19 smoothly against the action of dashpot 20, if the same be cmployed, and cause the core to rise smoothly within the dashpot or cylinder 21 until coiitact is made with the screw 22, whereupon further motion of the core 19 will raise the lever 17 and byV swinging the lever 16 reduce the pressure upon the pile 13 and prevent this predetermined maximum current from being exceeded by cutting'V down the field -of the generator. However, should a sudden rise in current tend to i'aise the core 19 with sutcient rapidity, the lever'17 will be raised almost instantly owingV to the dashpot action of core 19 within cylinder 21, and then the cylinder 21 and core 19 will gradually' approach each other until contact between the core' 19 and screw 22 is made, when fur ther upward motion of lcore 19 will affect the lever 17 as-though mechanically united permanently therewith. 1f, now, the generator continue to charge the battery untilits voltage rises to a predetermined limit which it is desired shall not be exceeded, v so adjust theA core 24 and coil 23 that-theV said coil will, when thisV voltage is reached, raise the core 24 'smoothly against the action of dashpot2,'ifY employed, and, through the dash-Y Y pot effect of the core 24'within theA cylinder 2 6, instantly affect the pile 13 through the lever 17-16, tending thereby to cause a slight falling off in the current in the coil 9 which will tendit@ allow the lever 17 to descend slightly,while the core will be smoothly raised into contact with the screw 27, whereupon this core will control the lever 17 and, as the battery voltage Vrises and its current tapersv oif,'core 19 will slowly descend into the Yposition indicated lin the drawing, whereupon it will play no part in the regulation which will be carried out by the voltage fcoil 23 the operation of which may be slightly modified, upon sudden changes,by the dashpot effect of the core 19 within the sleeve 21. If while-so operating the current output'should tendv to rise beyond lits predetermined limit for any cause, coil 9"will vagain raise the corel-19 and instantly affect the adjustment ofi-they pile 13 Y' to control'the generator throughthe dashbattery circuit uctuations. v c'ore`29 of the current coil is shown as perpot effect of the core 19 within 4the sleeve 21.

manently connected with the lever 17, which is affected by the voltage coil 23 through'the instrumentality of core 24 operating upon the multiplying lever 30 which affects the lever 17 through the instrumentality ofthe Vdashpot 32-33. lIf the current coil 28 be regulating the generator, the operation of the coil 2S will be steadied by the dashpot32-33,

' in coil 28 falls oil' the lever 1 7 will ascend until the plunger 32 reaches of the cylinder 33 whereupon upward move-V though, of course, theV core 29 `may Vbe equipped with the dashpot as shown at 20 inY voltageis reached, coil 23 will lift core 24 and raise the lever 30 so asto affectlever 17 immediately through the instrumentality of dashpot 32-33, whereupon as the current tend to tend to the end settle down, while the core 24 will nient of the core 24 will affect the lever 27 as though permanently Imechanically coupled therewith'.

From the foregoing itwill be noted'that- I have'prodi'iced a system wherein the current and voltage ofY variable speed generator are bothfprevented Vfrom exceeding predef .termined limitsvr and that the instrumentalh" ties which operate thefield Vregulating device for thusv controlling the generator are sojconto speak, before a more permanent adjust-` ment is effected, in such manner` as to cut down the so-cal-led transition period which ordinarily takes place in regulators of this' type when the regulation is brought about, more or less truly, by the voltage and current operated mechanism eachv affecting the regulator at the same time in such a manner as to somewhat interfere with the operation' of each other. i i

' Further, it will he noted that if, for ex-V ample, the current affected coil has caused a considerable displacement of the lever l17, as when the'generator is at very high speed, the voltage coil will at any time be capable of instantly affecting the pile 13 through the da'shpot `arrangement 26`24Y orquite as" quickly as this couldbe accomplished by means of a clutch connection between the core24 and the lever 17, and withthe advantage that the clutch connection would requiresome means ofreleasing itbefore the .-ioltjarge coil would becapable'of-regulating throughout its entire range,- while,jin the ion present system, the dashpot `ai'rangemeirt i would allowrthe core V24 to rise even whil-e affecting the 4pile 13 until stopped bythe screw 27 when the core 24 ,would occupy a position permitting it'to operate the lever 17 throughout its entire rangeV and thus Yattain a considerable advantage in operation over a clutch connection as wellV` as simplicity of construction.

l do not wish in any way to limit myself to any of' thefdetails of construct-ion or exact modes of operation' outlined above which are given merely to Aportray examples of embodiments of my invention, as wide departure may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention which is as set fort-h in the following claims:

1. The combination with a variable speed generator and regulating means therefor, of a plurality of means for operating the regulating means and means connecting said operating means including a dashpot.

2. The combination with a variable speed generator and regulating means therefor, of a plurality of means for operating the regulating means and means connecting said operating means including an air dashpot.

3. The combination with a variable speed generator and regulating means therefor, of a plurality of means for operating the regu lating means and means connecting said operating means including a fluid medium.

4. The combination with a variable speed generator and regulating means therefor, of a plurality of means for operating the regulating means and means connecting said operating means the effect of which is modified by the element of time.

i 5. The combination with a variable speed generator and regulating means therefor, of a plurality of means for operating theregulating means and means connecting said operating means including a device affected by the viscosity of an element thereof.

6. An electric regulator comprehending a l regulating element, a plurality of means for independently affecting said element and means whereby said affecting means aect each other including a 'dashpot 7. An electric regulator comprehending a regulating element, a plurality of means for independently affecting said element and means whereby said affecting means affect each other including a fluid medium.

8. An electric regulator comprehending a regulating element, a plurality of means for independentlyaffecting said element and means whereby said affecting means affect each other including a ydevice affected by t-he viscosity of anelement thereof.

9. An electric regulator comprehending a regulating element, a plurality of means for independently affecting said element and means whereby said affecting means affect each other and which is affected by the element of time.

10. An electric regulator comprehending a plurality of separately operating affecting means and means whereby said operating means may instantly affect each other including a fluid medium.

11. An electric regulator comprehending a plurality of separately operating affecting means and means whereby said operating means may instantly affect each other including a portion the operation of which is affecte'd by the element of time.

12. The combination with a variable speed generator and regulating means therefor, of current responsive means for operating said regulating means, voltage responsive means for operating said regulating means, and means whereby one responsive means cooperates with the other responsive means including a dashpot.

13. The combination with a variable speed generator and regulating means therefor, of current responsive means for operating said regulating means, voltage responsive means for operating said regulating means, and means whereby one responsive means cooperates with the other responsive means including a fluid medium.

14. The combination with a variable speed generator and regulating means therefor, of current responsive means for operating said regulating means, voltage responsive means for operating said regulating means, and means whereby one responsive means cooperates with the other responsive means including means the effect of which is modified by the element of time.

15. An electric regulator comprehending a regulating element, a plurality of means for independently affecting said element, and means whereby said affecting means may cooperate, including a dash-pot.

16. An electric regulator comprehending a regulating element, a plurality of means for independently affecting said element and means whereby said affecting means may cooperate, including a fluid medium.

17. An electric regulator comprehending a regulating element, a plurality of means for independently affecting said element and means whereby said affecting means may cooperate, including a device affected by the viscosity of an element thereof.

18. An electric regulator comprehending a regulating element, a plurality of means for independently affecting said element and means whereby said affecting means may cooperate, affected by tlie element of time.

JOHN L. CREVELING.

Cil 

